Bridging the Divide: Old & New in the Dining Room

In Washington, D.C., we hear a lot of talk about politicians bridging the "partisan divide" (or failing to do so). Well, the same can be said about decor…

Just because your taste tends to run ultra-modern doesn't mean you have to close yourself off to all traditional furnishings. In fact, a singularly modernist home can greatly benefit from a smattering of antiques. Starkly contrasting styles can be wonderfully complementary. And perhaps the best place to explore stylistic contrast is the dining room, where hundreds of years of dining traditions intersect with the practicality and functionality of modern living.

Pairing an antique or farmhouse table with modern or contemporary chairs (or vice versa) can bring a dining room to life and give it character and personality. You may opt for cozy chairs upholstered in stain-resistant fabric paired with a formal French-polished antique table. Or you may choose time-worn vintage chairs and a sleek modern table that can be wiped down with a countertop spray. By bridging the divide between old and new, traditional and modern, your dining room will avoid the matchy-matchy contemporary tone that plagues today's overly designed spaces.